Cooking for Two: More Than 200 Foolproof Recipes for Weeknights and Special Occasions
(Cooking for Two)

Dinner for 2-perfected Cooking for two doesn't have to mean simple pasta dishes or tired leftovers. It can be scaled down lasagnas and even desserts (birthday cake for two, anyone?).

In this first title in a new series from America's Test Kitchen, we leave no cooking-for-two technique unturned. Tired of having a big container of stock going to waste in your fridge? We solveDinner for 2-perfected Cooking for two doesn't have to mean simple pasta dishes or tired leftovers. It can be scaled down lasagnas and even desserts (birthday cake for two, anyone?).

In this first title in a new series from America's Test Kitchen, we leave no cooking-for-two technique unturned. Tired of having a big container of stock going to waste in your fridge? We solve that problem. Learn to never waste fresh herbs again and many other tricks

Our "Smart Shopper" cuts down on waste, making the most of your dollars. "Use it Up" recipes throughout the book help you use leftover ingredients (half an avocado? We have a tangy dressing calling its name). "Last Minute Suppers from the Pantry" lets you craft dinner in a pinch without running to the store.

Cooking for Two is for the adults in a busy family, empty nesters, single people and anyone scaling down but craving the perfect meal....more

Hardcover, 2009 Edition, 352 pages

Published
May 1st 2009
by America's Test Kitchen
(first published April 1st 2009)

Community Reviews

This book is focused on an interesting concept: A lot of recipes are for 4 or more people. What about those two person households? One cannot always just halve ingredients to produce a 2 person rather than a 4 person recipe. This book hopes to address that issue. With my son likely to leave in the near future (he'll graduate from college soon), creating his own life path, it will be basically 2 person dishes for me to prepare in the future, so this book has some value for me.

And, in my view, itThis book is focused on an interesting concept: A lot of recipes are for 4 or more people. What about those two person households? One cannot always just halve ingredients to produce a 2 person rather than a 4 person recipe. This book hopes to address that issue. With my son likely to leave in the near future (he'll graduate from college soon), creating his own life path, it will be basically 2 person dishes for me to prepare in the future, so this book has some value for me.

And, in my view, it does a good job. A nice touch is the description by the authors (from America's Test Kitchen) of how they go about experimenting, sometimes trying several different approaches to get just the right taste.

The very first recipe is nice: "Pan-Roasted Chicken and Vegetables." Potatoes, carrots, and shallots with bone in chicken breasts and herbs such as thyme, red pepper flakes, a garlic clove. Add a bit of lemon juice. Pretty straightforward instructions. Another skillet meal is easy and delicious--"Stir-Fried Beef with Snap Peas and Red Pepper."

I find that poaching is a useful technique for keeping dishes moist. On page 31 is a nice recipe for "Poached Salmon with Herb and Caper Vinaigrette." I have my own recipe for poaching salmon, but this looks even better, so I look forward to trying it out. There are also pasta recipes and grill recipes and side dishes and desserts.

All in all, a good cookbook with an irresistible premise for me at this point in my life, as I am about to be cooking for two....more

Honestly, I'm not overly impressed. There's the occasional something special, but I felt like half the recipes were so easy or basic that they were laughable, and the other half were very complicated. A bit disappointed by this one.

I love the Test Kitchen folks, and I found a few ideas in here that were mentally filed for future reference, but overall, it wasn't one that worked for me. I just didn't really feel the need to trim down what I'm cooking to two portions. I'm of the variety of folks who like to cook a cassarole and eat it all week. Boring, I know...

The good news... in some cases here, I recall a series of recipes...make the roast chicken for tuesday, then a chicken dish from the roast chicken for wednesday, etcI love the Test Kitchen folks, and I found a few ideas in here that were mentally filed for future reference, but overall, it wasn't one that worked for me. I just didn't really feel the need to trim down what I'm cooking to two portions. I'm of the variety of folks who like to cook a cassarole and eat it all week. Boring, I know...

The good news... in some cases here, I recall a series of recipes...make the roast chicken for tuesday, then a chicken dish from the roast chicken for wednesday, etc.

For me, this was worth a flip through and ideas were harvested, but I'm happier in general with just flipping through, vs. actually using the book.

I often have trouble scaling down recipes when I don't want to have left overs - this book has perfectly portioned recipes for two people and they are amazingly easy to make yet totally delicious I like that America's Test Kitchen puts a lot of effort into determining the exact best way to make something and then gives you reasons for everything that they've chosen to do (and tell you what didn't work). I've made two recipes from this and my husband is still asking for more!

Everything I've tried out of here is 5 star delicious especially because it showcased excellent technique. The Test Kitchen crew can be a bit meticulous and exacting, but believe me it is well worth it. I bought this cookbook and I would love to buy the other years as well.